Chapter 5 Poppy #2
She does the exact opposite. She plops onto the love seat next to him and nods sympathetically. “That’s heavy,” she says, still eyeing his hair. I’m not convinced she’s not going to start trimming him right now. “What do you need the statement for? The cops?”
I cover my face in my hands, not sure if I should apologize to Phantom or tackle my sister.
“For the judge,” Phantom says, looking both confused and a little amused. My freight train of a sister has that effect on people. “I’m trying to get full custody of my daughters.”
Clara nods vigorously, as though she’s actively a part of this conversation, which, now, she is. “We’re really busy today, but of course she’ll do it. When do you need it by? Do you need it emailed someplace or printed? What’s your email?”
Phantom looks at me, and I shake my head helplessly.
“She’s like this,” I tell him. “Let’s ignore her.” But then I grimace and hold back a chuckle. “So, do you need it emailed? When do you need it? And I guess I should ask if there’s anything specific you need it to say?”
Clara crosses her arms as if to say she was asking all the right questions before I butted into my own conversation, but I refuse to look at her.
“I’ll text you my lawyer’s number,” he says. “Send it all to him. That way, it goes right to the court from him, and no one can say I messed with it.”
I nod. “I’ll do it tonight. While it’s still fresh in my mind.”
He stands to leave, but then he stops and meets my eyes.
“I can’t tell you what this means to me.
” His voice is deadly serious, and I know what a big deal it is for him.
If I had an ex and the roles were reversed, I’d have shown up on Phantom’s front door Sunday morning after the whole thing happened, begging for him to document it too.
He flicks a quick glance at my sister and then meets my eye. “I want to do something to thank you,” he says. “Can I take you to dinner?”
“Yes.” Clara stands up and points at me. “Yes, you can take her to dinner.”
“Clara, no. Jax just got over a flu bug, I don’t have a babysitter, and…”
“I’ll babysit.” She cocks a brow at me. “Or you can ask Mom. One of us will watch Jax.”
“He’s not asking me on a date, Clara, for God’s sake…” I look at Phantom. “I’m sorry. My sister is—”
He doesn’t let me finish. “Bring your boy,” he says. “I don’t exactly have childcare myself, and I can’t send the girls back to their mom’s yet. I’ll bring them too.”
“A family date,” Clara says. “Even better. She says yes.”
“Okay, out. Go.” I point to the door. “Don’t you have clients processing?”
“Shit.” Clara frowns. “Okay, I got to run. Bye, Phantom. So nice meeting you.”
She flounces out of the lounge, and my shoulders sag in embarrassment. “I’m sorry about my little sister. She’s always been that way,” I tell him. “She’s hard to ignore, but I’ve had years of practice. It gets easier.”
“She’s got good ideas,” he says, his voice a sensual purr. “A family date sounds about right.”
My breath catches in my throat when he says date.
“I, uh…” My mind is spinning, whirling. “You don’t have to do that. I’m happy to write the letter for you.”
“I want to, Poppy. I’d like to see you again, ideally some place other than your work. I’d like to do something nice for you.”
I want to doubt that he’s really asking me out. I want to think this doesn’t mean anything.
The man’s eyes are locked on mine. He’s intense, but in the best ways. I feel a flush creep its way along my chest, and I have to look away.
He’s too attractive. His strong jaw covered in thick black hair, the concentration that lines his brow as he looks me over. I shiver, every nerve ending in my body awake under his gaze.
I can’t go on a date with him.
But it’s not really a date if we bring our kids, right? Maybe it’s just a friendly little thank-you dinner. I could do that, right? He’s just being generous so he doesn’t feel bad about asking me to write the letter.
I’ll agree, and I probably won’t hear from him again. No matter how much I tell myself I shouldn’t want to hear from him again, I feel instantly disappointed at the idea.
I’m out of my mind.
I’ve been locked down with Jax and his flu for too long. I need to tell this guy yes and send him on his way.
“Yes, to dinner.” I nod. “You have my number. Send me your lawyer’s contact information, and then, uh, I guess we’ll be in touch.”
“We will.” He nods, then pulls the sunglasses over his eyes. He turns to leave the lounge, but when he reaches the door, he turns back. “Thank you, Poppy.”
I can’t see his eyes, but the growl in his voice sends every tiny hair on my arms to attention. I plaster on a smile and wait until he’s left the lounge to sink back into the chair. Sweet Lord, that man. The letter. His kids. My kid. A date?
He’s got me so tongue-tied, I’m even thinking in single syllables.
Phantom. The gorgeous man who literally is going to haunt my dreams. It’s just dinner. Just a letter. What could possibly go wrong?
Yeah…I know.
This has trouble written all over it.